Manitoba

Manitoba Home Cancer Drug Program: The Home Cancer Drug (HCD) Program is a pharmacare program for Manitobans diagnosed with cancer that provides coverage for eligible outpatient oral cancer medications and certain supportive care medications at zero cost to the patient.

Never Alone Cancer Foundation provides financial support to eligible applicants. Financial support can be offered for:

• Non-covered medical expenses
• Groceries
• Transportation / Parking for medical appointments and treatments
• Help with bills
• Dental expenses related to cancer
• Lymphedema treatment & garments
• Palliative support

Helping Hands for Manitobans with Breast Cancer: Helping hands is an organization comprised of volunteers dedicated to providing financial support to those undergoing breast cancer treatment. 

Central Plains Cancer Services: Central Plains Cancer Services is a non-profit grassroots organization committed to improving the quality of life for cancer patients, survivors and families. They offer various programs designed to assist with the financial challenges associated with cancer.

Shine Through the Rain Foundation: Shine Through the Rain Foundation works to provide advice, guidance, and financial assistance to adults, children, and families affected by life-threatening illnesses.

The Employment and Income Assistance (EIA) provides financial help to Manitobans who have no other way to support themselves or their families. This includes benefits from the Rent Assist Program that helps with housing costs. For people who are able to work, EIA will help them go back to work by providing support to employment. For more information, including eligibility criteria, click here.

55 PLUS program:  The 55 PLUS Program, a Manitoba Income Supplement, provides quarterly benefits to lower-income Manitobans who are 55 years of age and over, and whose incomes are within certain levels. Eligibility is based on income reported in your tax return from the previous year. Applications can be submitted anytime during the year. Note that, applicants who are not yet receiving benefits through the Old Age Security Program are required to submit a new application each year. For more information, click here.

Harvest Manitoba: Harvest Manitoba is a not-for-profit, community-based organization, dedicated to nourishing their community, and their sense of community. If you need food, you can register with Harvest Manitoba, and answer a few personal questions and provide identification for all household members. You will also need to have your Manitoba Health card ready or your student ID if you’re an international student. One of the client services team members at Harvest Manitoba will review your needs and book an appointment at a nearby food bank. Harvest Manitoba food banks are in many communities across Manitoba. For more information, click here.

To receive Employment and Income Assistance as a person with disability, you:

• Live in Manitoba and are 18 years of age or older.
• You have a mental or physical disability that is likely to last more than one year and this disability keeps you from earning enough money to pay for your or your family’s basic needs.
• You are in financial need.

For more information on EIA for people with disabilities, including information on financial need, sources of income, financial assets etc. click here.

Canadian Cancer Society Driving Program: This driving program connects people who need transportation to cancer treatments with volunteer drivers. Clients need to be referred to this volunteer driving program by a member of their healthcare team at the hospital or at the cancer clinic where they are receiving treatment. To use this driving program you must be able to get in and out of a vehicle without assistance. If you cannot travel independently, you need to bring a travel escort (at least 18 years of age) with you in the vehicle to each of your appointments. Note that this program cannot transport wheelchairs. For more information, contact the cancer information helpline.

Canadian Cancer Society Travel Treatment Fund: The travel treatment fund offers short-term financial assistance to reduce some travel costs when traveling to cancer treatments. This includes expenses like fuel and taxi or public transit fares. It is available to people in Canada who are currently or will soon be undergoing cancer treatment. To apply, you need to complete and submit a Travel Treatment Fund Application Form.

South Central Cancer Resource: Transportation Assistance: South Central Cancer Resource offers a transportation program that helps you get to your cancer-related appointments. They offer a door-to-door service for clients who need rides through their volunteer driver program. For clients who decide to drive themselves or have a family/friend as a driver, the mileage to and from appointments will be reimbursed. For more information, contact SCCR. 

Northern Patient Transportation Program: The Northern Patient Transportation Program (NPTP) is a provincial government program of Manitoba Health and administered by the Northern Health Region (NHR) which subsidizes the travel costs of Northern residents to attend required medical appointments. Eligible Manitoba residents living north of the 53rd parallel from the Manitoba Saskatchewan Border to Lake Winnipeg are covered. A Manitoba Health card or treaty status is a requirement for coverage. Treaty patients living off reserve or non-treaty patients living on reserve are covered by NPTP. On-reserve treaty status patients are covered by a Health Canada Medical Transportation program. For more information, including what NPTP covers and the process for this transportation program, click here.

Manitoba Breast Prosthesis Program (MBP): The MBP provides financial assistance to help eligible women access a wide selection of breast prostheses and bras post-mastectomy. 

Eligible women may choose to claim:

• a benefit every two years of:

1. Up to $400 per prosthesis to a total of one prosthesis for a single mastectomy; or
2. Up to $400 per prosthesis to a total of two prostheses for a bilateral mastectomy; and, 
3. Fifty dollars ($50) towards the purchase of a bra

• or a benefit every four years of

1. Up to $800 per prosthesis to a total of one prosthesis for a single mastectomy; or 
2. Up to $800 per prosthesis to a total of two prostheses for a bilateral mastectomy; and,
3. One hundred dollars ($100) towards the purchase of a bra

For more information about how to participate in the Manitoba Breast Prosthesis Program, contact: Breast & Gyne Cancer Centre of Hope. Toll-free: 1-866-561-1026. Web: cancercare.mb.ca

Manitoba Hydro: Get help paying your bill: If you are behind on paying your energy bills, Manitoba Hydro is here to help. There are different options available to get you back on track, reduce your energy costs, and avoid disconnection of your service. You can get help right away through programs like payment arrangements, neighbours helping neighbours, and a customer arrears assistance plan. Other options include an equal payment plan, and a home energy efficiency loan. Note that if you have an outstanding balance and aren’t able to make a payment, contact Manitoba Hydro right away. They can work with you to make sure your energy services continue to flow.

Benevolent Fund | mbcandlelighters: Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Support Group, through its Benevolent fund, steps in to help financially struggling Manitoba families in their time of need by assisting with the costs of funeral services for their child. This support is for families who’s children received the majority of their care at CancerCare MB. Requests for support must be submitted by the child’s nurse or child life/social worker.  They are not able to accept applications directly from families or those acting on their behalf that are not part of the child’s medical team. To apply, send an email to support@manitobacandlelighters.org.